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Rauner Addresses Caymans, Government Shutdown

Although the Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade was rained out, at least one candidate for governor found a Springfield crowd to work anyway.

Bruce Rauner spent a few minutes gladhanding a friendly crowd at a restaurant near the fairgrounds, and he clarified where he stands on a government shutdown.

“Nowhere in our plan was any state shutdown put forward,” Rauner said. “We’re not advocating that, but what we’ve got to do – we’ve got to stand up and fight for taxpayers, schoolchildren, homeowners, taxpayers.” When reminded there’s video available of him discussing shutting down the government for a while, he said, “If some of the government unions take action themselves, that’s a different matter. That’s not part of our plan.”

Rauner also explained that recent news that both candidates can be tied to investments based in the Cayman Islands shows an apples-to-apples comparison.

“I have never set up any accounts over in the Caymans for myself or any of my personal assets or investments. This is all a diversion by Pat Quinn because he has failed on jobs, taxes, and schools. He wants to raise taxes on families, and I want to lower them. This is a diversion! What this Cayman Islands issue (is) is standard practice. The Illinois state pensions have Cayman vehicles. Pat Quinn has Cayman vehicles. My firm has some Cayman vehicles. It’s common practice.”

Quinn is scheduled to officially open the fair with a ribbon-cutting today.